The evidence released to the public has been minimal, but here's what we know so far: Social media photos give snapshot of teens location. After authorities said Libbys phone pinged off two towers the day she disappeared, armchair detectives theorized it must have been because the device was moving around town, but German said that was not the case. Were willing to wait. Investigators have explained that the details of the crime scene indicate a signature, which can help them identify the killer. Abby Williams' grandparents leave an emotional note at police headquarters to expresses their gratitude for those investigating the case. WebIndiana investigators are working to determine if a sexual assault suspect is connected to the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams. Carter added the probable Man's Mugshot Draws Comparisons to Sketch of Indiana Teens' Suspected Killer, Grieving Families Of Teens Killed on Indiana Hike Come Together For First Time. Todd Ladd, pastor of Delphi United Methodist Church, says. "We've been down this path a few times on a few other tips similar to this," Libby's grandfather, Mike Patty, said. [6] Time magazine described the arrest as "the first major break in a case that has captivated national attention for nearly six years."[7]. Its an outlet for us to keep busy.. The FBI has released a description for the suspect, which is that he is a white male between 5'6" and 5'8" tall. But those girls loved each other. Investigators believe the suspect is the man seen in the video. "I can't tell if that is him or not," Katelyn tellsThe Gazette about the photo. The 50-year-old is a local resident of Delphi, the small, close-knit town of around 3,000 people. On Monday, Indiana State Police announced that he had been charged with two counts of murder. 8 Weirdly Specific True Crime Shows That Actually Exist, Chris Watts Bombed His Polygraph Test, and It Led to His Confession, Where Is Convicted Murderer Jeffrey MacDonald Now? I dont even think its possible, German said. Now, according to Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby, investigators are looking into Chadwell for the 2017 murders of Liberty "Libby" German and her best friend, Abigail "Abby" Williams, the Courier, WGN and WSBT report. Recommended. The case is still being actively investigated. Kim Riley. They have also suggested that the crime scene was odd in nature. Richard Allen, a 50-year-old married Delphi man, was taken into custody on Wednesday (26 October) and booked into Carroll County Jail. The selfie was posted on social media the same month investigators issued a fresh appeal urging members of the public to come forward with information about an online catfishing account thought to be tied to the murders. Hopefully this works, hopefully people understand that rumors suck and they hurt people. [Featured image: Abby (l) and Libby (r)/Handout], Serial Killer NICU Nurse Says She Watched as 1-Pound Baby Self-Corrected After Allegedly Displacing Breathing Tube, Mother Attempts to Stab, Kill Children with Butcher Knife While Traveling on Interstate: Police, Mystery Surrounds Mom-of-3 Found Dead After Failing to Pick up Children from School, Police Ask for Patience, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. We need to find out who has done this to our girls.". Never-before-released video taken from Libby's cellphone shows a man walking towardthe two girls. Finally having a breakthrough in the case was a positive day for the community, she said. [34] A non-profit organization, L & A Park Foundation, was formed to "celebrate and commemorate the lives of Libby German and Abby Williams by creating a place for the appreciation of nature, art, play, and athleticism for generations to come. Web The murder of two teen girls rocked the small town of Delphi. Investigators stated they had reason to believe that the suspect might well be hiding in plain sight and the person was almost certainly familiar with the area of Delphi, whether it be from living or working there or for another reason. Neither one of them left each other's side.". Since then, theyve been poring through thousands of tips. You just can't put words to it, he said. The image shows a white male with his hands in his pockets while walking. Another witness and a tip mentioned that a car was parked "oddly" and appeared to be parked in a way as if to hide its license plate. Is April Tinsley's Accused Killer Connected to the 2017 Murder of Indiana Hikers? "The FBI agent that wrote it speculated that could have become some sort of trophy for the killer," said Cain. Family members of Libby welcomed the charges, with her sister writing on social media: We got him.. He has not yet entered a plea. WebThe victims bodies were found on Feb. 14, 2017, less than a quarter mile from the Monon High Bridge, the railway bridge where the girls captured their alleged murderer on video. ", "Somebody knows this voice," one Delphi citizen tells Inside Edition. John Miller, 59, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was arrested in the The document also says that his voice was not inconsistent with the man captured in the video by Libby. "Somebody has to know who this guy is. The families initially searched for the girls themselves before calling the police. Etter took his own life June 27 after being surrounded by law enforcement on a county road north of Lebanon. German first began with a timeline of events the day she dropped off Libby and Abby near the scenic Monon High Bridge. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Indianapolis, IN Interactive Weather Radar, ISP: Man in photo considered suspect in Delphi teen murder case, "Down the hill" New audio could help solve Delphi killings, ISP call Liberty German a hero' for capturing audio, photos of suspect, FBI seeks tips on behavioral changes to help catch Delphi killer, Report Delphi tips to police, not social media, State Police: 'Please don't spread rumors' in Delphi investigation, Changed their appearance; cut their hair, shaved when they haven't in a while or drastically changed the way they dress, Started abusing drugs or alcohol when they wouldn't have beforehand, Took an unexpected trip after February 13, Canceled an appointment or social engagement on February 13 for an unexplained reason, Has obsessed over the Delphi murders and constantly talks about what they were doing on February 13. WebThomas Bruce, a killer and former pastor, resembled the man in the Delphi video Thomas Bruce Thomas Bruce, a former pastor, was charged with fatally shooting one woman and He appears to have no prior criminal record though jail records list him as also going by the alias of Craigh Ross Rentfrow. At a news conference, police reveal Libby recorded video and audio of the suspect on her cell phone. Based on investigators experience it is reasonable to believe that the creation of an alibi prior to the discovery of a crime indicates culpability or knowledge of the crime, the agent wrote. Absolutely no one refused a lie detector test, German said. The people behind the scenes will not rest until we get this case solved. Indiana State Police release a sketch of the murder suspect. "Until somebody is arrested, were interested in almost everybody.". Police reiterated that it's important to be as specific as possible. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. His family home is less than a five-minute drive away from where the bodies of Libby and Abby were found, residing in a neighborhood southwest of the Monon High Bridge. Also, Im tired of hearing about them and Im tired of getting questions about the rumors, Im tired of trying to debunk them, so hopefully [with] this video, I can send people here and tell them, hey, go look at this, and that will help.. The documents, filed in 2020 and heavily redacted, do not mention the murders of Libby and Abby and he was not accused of involvement in their deaths. In the years since Libby German and Abby Williams were murdered, there have been no arrests. email us atinfo@getupanddance.caor give us a call with questions about modern square dancing, our Club and joining our group, Facebook: Here is a previous episode on the case. He told investigators that he was picked up by a friend around 2pm on 13 February and driven to an aquarium store, returning hours later at around 5pm, the document states. The warrant application cites multiple complaints that he was violent towards women and that he owned multiple weapons, including handguns and knives. This came after a fresh appeal was launched in December urging people to come forward with information about an online catfishing account. Two police sketches were circulated of a man matching the description of the man in the footage one in 2017 and one in 2019. State police's statement added, "It is important for the public and media to know that many similar tips and arrests of other persons alleged to be connected to the Delphi murders occur with some frequency in and outside of Indiana. I mean in the beginning we didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59. During the course of news coverage of his arrest,localIndianaresidents noticehis mugshotresemblesthe sketch of Abby and Libby's alleged killer and begin calling the police tip line. The river is near the area where Kegan Kline lived. Police say he could be linked to the murders and call him a person of interest. That afternoon,Indiana State Police and the Carroll County Sheriffs Department hold a news conference and confirm the bodies do belong to Liberty and Abigail. David, the person involved in the leaked text messages, claimed that the girls died from stabbing. Authorities also announce a $41,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. In the more than three years since the girls' tragic murders, very little evidence has been released about the case including the cause of death. In August, Indiana State Police were spotted searching the Wabash River in Peru around 40 minutes east of Delphi in connection to the case. His home had been searched on suspicion of child porn charges just two weeks after the 2017 murders. "This horrible crime has torn a hole in our families that will never heal," he says. Further, although the public has only heard a few seconds of a recording made by one of the victims before her death, the agent wrote in the warrant that the full recording is 43 seconds long. The murders have received media coverage that included reports of a video and audio recording of an individual believed to be the girls' killer were found on German's smartphone. He detailed other information about the crime scene, and the differences in the girls' apparent injuries. I mean they have built softball fields to bring awareness to their children and its just a beautiful thing that they are just so strong, she said. Logan was never charged and he died in 2020, before the case was solved. Nobody lives in total isolation in todays world, and Im asking that person, please help us out.". Abigail and Liberty were murdered on February 13, while Lyric and Elizabeth vanished on July 13. It could even be their murders that they are not releasing to spare the families. The authorities have been purposeful in not disclosing much information about the Delphi Murders. "Its the small things that seem to hurt the most. On the two-year anniversary of the girls' disappearance, authorities vowed they would bring the person responsible to justice. WebOn October 31, 2022, Indiana State Police announced that the suspect had been charged with two counts of murder in the case. We dance for fun not for perfection! WebTheres a high probability they were sexually assaulted - just looking at the facts of child abduction murderers and their general MO. "The documents said pretty clearly that due to the nature of the injuries the girls suffered there would have had to have been blood on the killer. However, the investigators have made it clear over the years that they are not yet ready to release further information about what happened to the teens. The murders On 13 February, 2017, Liberty German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, went for a hike over the Monon High Bridge in Carroll County, Indiana. Mr Allen appears to bear a likeness to the sketches. Until now. Aside from the sketches released, authorities have indicated that the killer left behind physical evidence. For the first time, the warrant also revealed that the teenagers had been killed by some type of weapon. The full video from Libby's phone has not been released, nor did police elaborate on what was happening when the recording was made. Autopsies are conducted on the bodies. At the time of the murders, he would have been 44 years old. A 27-year-old Indiana man fell under the spotlight last year when the online account he used to groom underage girls online was tied to the teenage victims. He then let her go and evaded capture as police launched a massive search in the area. -- to which we bring finger foods. We now know who the FBI was looking into at Police have declared the deaths a double homicide, but have not released any information on how the girls were killed. DELPHI FBI Investigators believe the bodies of Abby Williams and Libby German were moved and staged at the Delphi murder scene, according to court documents. If you have any information on the case, no matter how small, contact authorities using the tip line at 1 (844) 459-5786 or emailAbbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Teenagers Libby German and Abby Williams were murdered back in February 2017. Investigators with the FBI have asked people to think back to the day the girls disappeared - do you know anyone who exhibited strange behavior that day or in the days following their murders? If you know anything about this case, you are asked to contact, Indiana State Police. Please let us know if you have concerns, suggestions or questions. Authorities in Indiana investigating the unsolved murders of two best friends are looking into a 42-year-old man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old. Detectives said that after the photo was taken, a man approached the girls and apparently told them to go down the hill.. Miller was later convicted of the murder of Tinsley and sentenced to 80 years in prison. The friend confirmed the alibi before admitting two days later that Logan had made up the story and asked him to lie. The Girls Went Missing Last Monday After Going Hiking. [9], On April 22, 2019, Indiana State Police announced a "new direction" in the case and released a new sketch of the suspect, while urging the public to look at the sketch, listen to the audio, watch how the man walks on the bridge and send tips to the tipline email. He engaged in a five-hour standoff with police before killing himself. They were reported missing two hours after they didn't show up for their ride home, and their bodies were found the following day about half a mile away from the bridge. At 1:35p.m. on February 13, 2017, 13-year-old Abigail Joyce "Abby" Williams and 14-year-old Liberty Rose Lynn "Libby" German were dropped off by German's older sister, Kelsi German, on County Road 300 North, east of the Hoosier Heartland Highway. WebDelphi murders autopsy. [25][26] Two public defenders were appointed to represent the suspect. Instead, cellphone location data placed Mr Logan in the area around the trail at the time Abby and Libby disappeared. We also try to do a couple of demonstrations each year to help raise awareness, interest, and participation in the activity we all enjoy. The accused killer brazenly posed for a smiling selfie in front of one of the police sketches of the murder suspect, We are shocked and saddened to learn that one of our store employees was arrested as a suspect in these crimes. Logan is later sentenced to two yearsfor operating a vehicle after being a habitual traffic offender. Their bodies were found on a piece of private property less than a mile away the next morning. With candor and patience, Kelsi German listed and responded to myriad rumors that have cropped up since her 14-year-old sister and Abbyvanished in 2017. [21], On October 26, 2022, a suspect was taken into custody and appeared in court on October 28. Since the Club is comprised of three square dance levels Basics, Mainstream and Plus we take turns for the teach part of the evening, and then dance to ensure we have knowledge of the new moves. Investigators tracked Logans activities on the day of the murders and determined he was not forthcoming. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Ms Patty had also sought to have sensitive information relating to the case kept out of the public eye, prosecutors said. Here's the Update in His Case. Although his face isnt clear in the picture, it was enough to give authorities a general description. [30] A witness said she saw a man walking away from the bridge "wearing a blue colored jacket and blue jeans and was muddy and bloody." With less than 3,000 residents, Delphi is a town where everyone knows one another, and the murders have greatly affected many locals. At 2:07p.m., Libby posted a photo of Abby walking the bridge; after this, they were not heard from again. There are no square dance competitions or exams. A large amount of blood was lost by the victims at the crime scene, an agent wrote in the warrant. He says he was buying tropical fish at the time of the murders. Just like a normal guy that Ive seen for the last couple years, not really thinking anything.. However, after so many leads had gone cold she said she was not going to get her hopes up that it was the breakthrough the families had been waiting for. After receiving multiple calls,Capt. "We're hoping that the tip's there, and we're going to find it.". Ahead of the first anniversary of the girls' deaths, authoritiessay Daniel Nations is not a suspect, KRDO reported. However, before they died, Libby captured a video and audio clip on her phone, in which the suspect can apparently be heard saying, "Guys, down the hill.". More than two years later, authorities have yet to catch their murderer. On the afternoon of Feb. 13, 2017, a family member drops off Abby and Libby at a trail near the scenic Monon High Bridge, an abandoned railroad bridge over Deer Creek in Carroll County, Indiana. Man Accused of Holding Woman Captive for Month and Sexually Assaulting Her Could Face Life in Prison, On Night Her 3 Kids Were Killed, Lindsay Clancy Was 'Smiling and Happy,' Husband Told Police, Suspect Arrested in 2017 Delphi Killings of Indiana Teens Liberty German and Abigail Williams, Accused Delphi Killer 'Is Not the Only Actor Involved in This,' Says Prosecutor, Mass. [16], On July 23, 2019 a suspect who had been wanted for the kidnapping and rape in Tippecanoe County was named as one of multiple suspects being investigated for the Williams and German murders, according to Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby. There is somebody out there who did this crime, and were going to find them, says Indiana State Police Sgt. They say they know the man responsiblewill be caught andbrought to justice. Kline was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse images and child exploitation tied to the account in 2020. It could be an attack on the girls. Two articles of clothing were also missing. Town of Delphi, Indiana, left heartbroken and rattled by murders of 2 teenage girls Indiana State Police on Monday said a man in a photograph is the primary suspect in the double homicide investigation, but nothing is known about him at this time outside of a These dance performances are done strictly on a volunteer basis. Police have identified another person of interest, a man currently in jail awaiting trial for child pornography charges. "[11] At this news conference, officials credited the source of the audio and imagery to German's smartphone and further regarded her as a hero for having had the presence of mind and fortitude to secretly record the exchange. 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